Goal
The goal of the Palm Desert Renewable Hydrogen Transportation Project is to demonstrate a clean and sustainable transportation system for a community. The project demonstrates the practical utility of hydrogen as a transportation fuel and the proton exchange membrane fuel cell as a vehicle power system. The Palm Desert Renewable Hydrogen Transportation Project encompasses the entire cycle from energy production to end-use (transportation). A solar array generates electricity to run an electrolyzer, which produces hydrogen from water. The hydrogen is compressed and pumped to a gas (refueling) station for use in fuel cell-powered vehicles.

Schatz Hydrogen Generation Center
Located at SunLine Transit Agency in Thousand Palms, California, the Schatz Hydrogen Generation Center is a complete hydrogen production, compression, storage, and dispensing facility. The facility provides compressed hydrogen at 3600 psig for use in the SERC hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle fleet operated by SunLine Transit and the City of Palm Desert. The hydrogen generation center was designed and installed by SERC engineers. It is operated and maintained by SunLine Transit personnel, with ongoing support provided by SERC staff.

 

The hydrogen generation building.	Refueling the NEV at the hydrogen dispenser.
	Left: SunLine administrators show off their new 16.2-kW solar array.

For further information, photos, and specifications, check out our Schatz Hydrogen Generation Center Fact Sheet and Fuel Cell Vehicle Data Sheets